Mike Layton represents University Rosedale (Ward 11) at Toronto Council and was one of eight Councillors who voted recently for a ten percent reallocation of money from the $1.2 billion Toronto Police Service budget in 2020. The motion was defeated eight to sixteen with one member absent. Mr. Layton’s diverse constituency stretches from Moore Park in the far northeast to Ossington Ave. more than three kilometres west of Yonge St. He was asked by The Bulldog to comment on this summer’s “defund the police” phenomenon.

Public discourse surrounding defunding the police has been top of mind recently, but it is important to note that the conversation is not new. We know that racism manifests in poverty, housing discrimination, cuts to social and community programs, and in health outcomes, especially as being observed through the current pandemic.

In the Toronto context, what I mean by defunding the police is that we must reallocate resources away from the police budget and put them into services that we can create, or that are currently in existence, to provide safety and support for oppressed communities that recognize systemic racism toward Black, Indigenous, and people of colour. We need to stop looking to the police as the first response to all emergency calls, and to look at alternative front line models that work better for situations of mental health crises, homelessness, and gender-based violence for example.

Toronto’s highest budget cost is our police budget, because it reflects the long-held idea that enforcement is the only way to keep everyone safe. Studies over many years have proven that this is not true – and in many cases show the opposite effect. We must take action to reinvest our limited resources to address the inequities that form the roots of violence and poverty in our city. It starts with properly funding education, youth-based programming and mental health supports.

People don’t need more surveillance, they need opportunity and a more intelligent approach to supporting individuals in our community who are dealing with mental health issues. Although this has been in conversation for many years, we still seem to be in the beginning stages. The City works to apply an equity lens on every budget decision it makes, which is a good first step, but more must be done. Going forward, meaningful consultation with Black, Indigenous and other racialized communities must become standard to ensure that funding decisions ultimately reflect their voices. Our City budget demonstrates our governance priorities, and there has been an overwhelming and historical refusal to acknowledge the harm created by ignoring these communities. We are overdue for change.

Do you find me disapproving? — Colin Mcconnell

Nature photographer Colin Mcconnel has posted additional pictures at the I am a Leslievillian Facebook page. As usual, these wildlife depictions entertain and enchant.

Young bucks will remember the NHL season of 2020 as the year teams played all-day on television in two Canadian towns in the middle of summer with no fans in the arenas. The schedule begins August 1 in Toronto and Edmonton, places chosen among other reasons because Canada has done a good job of beating back COVID-19. Players will apparently be able to opt out for concern of catching the virus.  We’re back

Enjoy!

Scholar’s Choice closing

Long-time Bayview Ave. location

Staff at Scholar’s Choice, 1599 Bayview Ave., confirm to The Bulldog that the store will close possibly as early as the end of August. Looking around on the Internet it is clear Scholar’s Choice has had trouble weathering the pandemic. The national chain has already closed stores in many communities.

New Davisville Public School

New Davisville Public School

On Davisville Ave. work continues apace on the new Davisville Public School School scheduled to accept classes in fall 2021. This picture of advancing work was taken Thursday.

Leaside Mobile Car Wash

Classy poster

Thumbs up for Leaside Mobile Car Wash

A bright poster that includes an early 1960s Pontiac Grand Prix and the faces of two enterprising Leaside boys appears on Facebook to announce Leaside Mobile Car Wash. Go guys.

Friday brings news that fresh cases of COVID-19 continue to decline in Ontario but that the infection in Peel Region stubbornly continues. Thursday a bump-up to 170 new cases was explained by an upsurge in cases among Windsor-Essex farm workers Daily summaries

More than 150 eminent people worldwide have signed an open letter published in Harper’s Magazine saying that social media pressure driving the cancel culture is imperiling free speech. Among the signatories are Margaret Atwood, J.K. Rowling, Noam Chomsky, Gloria Steinem, Wynton Marsalis, Garry Kasparov and Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. Also signing is Canadian psychiatrist Steven Pinker who says he has since received mail congratulating him on remaining sane. But the signatories have also been attacked. The Daily Beast has called them “white bigots.”

Hard at work/Amy Lau

Workmen digging up lawns on City property (and related behaviour above) have sparked a 58-comment thread on Leaside Community FB by noon Thursday.

A woman RCMP officer has been permitted to keep her job after a fellow Mountie reported a series of intimate grabbing and lurid invitations in 2009 and 2010 while he and Constable Valerie Little were in training. CBC

Betsy Griffin will make you smile

A British girl, six-year-old Betsy Faye Griffin, has made it her mission to deliver positive messages to the world through her online videos. ITV